A COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN OXYGENATED WATER AND MINERAL WATER
A. Background of the study
Water is created by a combination of hydrogen and oxygen. More than half of the human
body consists of water. People need to consume fluids such as water to stay hydrated and
healthy. Lack of water in the human body can lead to dehydration and ultimately, death. Oxygen
is also a necessary for human life. The human body absorbs the oxygen from the air through the
lungs. From there, oxygen ultimately joins red blood cells in the blood stream where the cells
carry the oxygen to be used throughout the body. Blood can absorb much more oxygen than
can water.
However, because of pollution water is no longer safe for drinking. Contaminants such as
Mercury, bacteria (Escherichia coli) and viruses are now present in water supply. Mercury is a
notorious as an environmental toxin, from Batteries which can cause Kidney, nervous system
disorders. Bacteria most often enter drinking water through sewage contamination or run-off
from agricultural operations. Escherichia coli produces a powerful toxin which can result in
severe diarrhea (often bloody) and abdominal cramps. Many viruses known to cause disease in
humans can be carried in our water supply, including everything from the common cold to
typhoid fever.
For this reason, people developed machines that purify water from hazardous contaminants.
Among which are mineral water and oxygenated water.
Mineral water is water containing minerals or other dissolved substances that alter its
taste or give it therapeutic value, generally obtained from a naturally occurring mineral
spring or source. Mineral water is different than bottled water and tap water because it has not
been treated in the same way as these other types of water. All water is initially mineral water
until it is boiled, like distilled water, or sent through a softener or some sort of cleaning
process. These different types of minerals might include the following: calcium, magnesium,
zinc, iron, sodium, potassium, chloride, nitrates, sulfates, fluoride and even bicarbonates.
Mineral water is an excellent addition to a healthy diet and exercise program as it will not only
keep you hydrated, but also replace minerals that you lose through the normal course of your
day. [4]
Oxygenated water or “super oxygenated water” is drinking water that has been enriched
with oxygen gas (O2). The sales pitch for oxygenated drinking water is that it results in better
stamina and athletic performance, shortens recovery time from strenuous physical activity, and
improves brain function because the extra oxygen it contains is absorbed in the digestive tract
and used by the cells of the body.
B. Statement of the Problem
Which of the following water samples is easier to produce?
Sub-Problems:
1) What are the processes that the water samples undergone?
2) Does losing some nutrients necessary for the water samples in the process of
purification?
C. Objective of the Study
This study aims to determine the most suitable water for drinking. Most
specifically it seeks to:
1) Identify the processes the water samples undergone.
2) Discover if the water samples lose some nutrients in the process of
purification.
D. Hypotheses
1) None of the water samples is easier to produce.
2) Oxygenated water is easier to produce than mineral water.
3) Oxygenated water is not easier to produce than mineral water.
E. Significance of the Study
This study is pursued to see what kind of water (oxygenated or mineral) is easier
to produce. Also, to see if the water samples lost some nutrients in there process of
purification. And to know the processes that they’ve undergone.
F.
Scope and Limitations of the Study
Two water samples are used in this study: oxygenated water and mineral water. It
focuses on the production of two kinds of water, to see if what kind of water is easier to
produce. It is to see if the water samples lose some nutrients in the process of purification.
G. Definition of Terms
Oxygenated water
-
drinking water that has been enriched with oxygen gas
Mineral water
-
water containing minerals or other dissolved substances
that alters its taste or gives it therapeutic value,
generally obtained from a naturally occurring mineral
spring or source
Purification
-
the process of rendering something pure